Sharks take three forwards, two defensemen

SAN JOSE, Calif. _ The NHL zipped through the second day of its 2012 entry draft in record time Saturday _ 180 picks in a mere 2 hours and 45 minutes.

And when it ended, the Sharks had five more names on the depth chart, three forwards and two defensemen who cited the likes of New Jersey's Zach Parise and Philadelphia's Chris Pronger as their role models.

"I think we're pleased with what we accomplished today," general manager Doug Wilson said, "but the truth certainly will be in future years when these guys come and help our hockey team."

For now, the players chosen _ center Chris Tierney, right wing Christophe Lalancette, center Daniel O'Regan and defensemen Clifford Watson and Joakim Ryan _ will continue to play in the Canadian and U.S. junior leagues or in college.

Ryan was the Sharks' final selection, but he has an attention-getting background, having competed internationally for Sweden before going on to play at Cornell _ a path similar to that taken by Sharks defenseman Douglas Murray.

"The mother's from Sweden, the father's from here," said Sharks director of scouting Tim Burke in partial explanation.

The Sharks engineered one trade Saturday, giving up one of their two seventh-round picks this year and a fourth-round pick in 2013 for the Chicago Blackhawks' fourth-round selection.

The Sharks, who held no third- or fourth-round picks going into the draft, then chose Lalancette at 109th overall.

Lalancette said the fact the Sharks traded up to get him added to the excitement of being drafted.

"It does give me a lot of confidence," he said.

Burke described Lalancette as a "real solid, two-way guy," and the teenager himself used the same phrase in describing his game, adding: "I have to work on my strength."

_ Daniel O'Regan (fifth round, 138th overall), 5-foot-9, 165 pounds; three goals and five points in seven games with the U.S. National Development Team (USHL). Ranked the 76th North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

The son of onetime NHL player Tom O'Regan, Daniel was born in Germany during the decade his father played in Europe and was 4 when the family moved back to Massachusetts.

"Playmaking center," is how the draft pick described himself. "I think I work hard in all three zones, but my main job is probably distributing the puck _ making plays, being creative offensively."

He went to the national development team after finishing his season at St. Sebastian High and will be a freshman at Boston University in the fall.

_ Clifford Watson (sixth round, 168th overall), 6-foot-2, 195 pounds; no goals and eight points in 58 games with Sioux City (USHL). Ranked the 170th North American skater by NHL Central Scouting.

"I'm more of a stay-at-home defenseman, good first pass, good stick and physical in front of my net, physical on the ice in the corners and stuff," said Watson before saying others have likened his style to that of Pronger.

That "stuff" includes a willingness to drop the gloves.

"Absolutely," said the Wisconsin native without hesitation. "I'm not really against that."

Burke said Watson will compete one more season in the USHL, then plans to play at Ohio State.

Unlike the Sharks' Murray, Ryan grew up in New Jersey and lived only a couple years in Sweden. But he holds dual citizenship and has played for the national team of his mother _ professional tennis player Catarina Lindqvist _ in two tournaments.